Homeless Education Program
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
The Law - General Information
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is the federal law that governs the educational rights of children and youth in homeless situations. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In an effort to strengthen accountability at both the state and local level, the reauthorization includes the requirement for every school district in the country to designate a homeless liaison. Homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate public education.
If you or your child:
live in a shelter
share housing with relatives or others because you lost your housing or cannot afford housing
live in a campground, car, abandoned building, or other inadequate shelter
do not have a permanent address and/or permanent housing
live on the street
live in temporary foster care
if you are an unaccompanied youth
You have the right to:
immediately enroll in and attend school without having health and school records with you
enroll in school where you are living or the school attended when permanently housed... if in your child's best interest
receive transportation to and from school of origin
participate in school related activities and receive other needed services
For additional information on the educational rights of homeless children and youth, you may visit these recommended sites:
The homeless liaison is charged with enforcing state and federal protections for homeless students and may be contacted with issues regarding enrolling or maintaining attendance for students experiencing homlessness.
The liaison is responsible for:
identification of homeless children and youth (by school personnel and through coordination activities with other entities and agencies);
facilitate enrollment and participation to obtain equal opportunity and success in school;
ensure that educational services for which such families are eligible (including Head Start). The parents and guardians of homeless children and youth get informed of the educational and related opportunities available to their children and are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children;
outreach - public notices of the educational rights of homeless children and youth is disseminated;
enrollment disputes are mediated in accordance;
assist the unaccompanied youth with enrollment, obtaining records, and information regarding their rights under the law.
| Gladys Sasso-Alvarez |
| Homeless Education Liaison |
| Forsyth County Schools |
| Hill Educational Center |
136 Elm Street |
| Cumming, GA 30040 |
| Phone: 678-947-0274 |
| Fax: 678-947-1191 |
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